While the Bennington Public Schools Foundation is widely known for its financial support of graduates' post-secondary endeavors through scholarships, since 2012 it has also been quietly helping students get a headstart on their college readiness– through Advanced Placement, dual-enrollment courses.
Through our AP Test Reimbursement Program, part of the Foundation’s Beyond Blue: Future Success funding, we partner with Bennington High School to reimburse parents for their students’ AP exam fees. The goal is simple: Enhance college readiness by removing financial barriers so more students can take advantage of college-level coursework while still in high school.
During the 2024/25 school year alone, students took 244 AP exams. The Foundation and the district work together to cover the exam costs so there is no financial aspect required from students or their families. The Foundation pays for half of the exams taken at $90 each—totaling about $11,000 in funding, while the district covers the other half.
But our support doesn’t stop there. The Foundation also sets aside funding to help with teacher dual certification, ensuring that Bennington educators can offer these dual-enrollment AP-level courses in partnership with colleges and universities. This not only provides students with more opportunities to earn college credit but also strengthens the district’s ability to prepare them for post-secondary success. Last year alone we helped three teachers complete their dual certification at the request of the District.
“Supporting students throughout their advanced placement journey is important as it provides them an option to further their education beyond BHS,” said BPS Foundation Executive Director Blake Thompson, “It provides a financially sustainable option for them to not have to take these courses in college. This is truly the art of setting students up for future success "Beyond Blue!"
Real Impact: From Bennington to Syracuse
For 2025 Bennington High School graduate Baylor Detjens, this program made all the difference. Now studying Journalism at Syracuse University, he entered college as a sophomore—thanks to the AP dual-enrollment credits he earned at BHS.
“The moment I realized I was a college sophomore was an extremely exciting one,” Detjens shared. “Having the ability to take AP courses in Bennington and for teachers to dual-enroll them through UNO was something I would not trade for the world. This head start has been a life-saver—it’s reduced my stress, saved money, and given me time to get involved in so many opportunities on campus my first year here. If I hadn't been able to take AP classes in high school I would likely be in a drastically different place than I am now.”
In addition to his studies, Detjens is involved in numerous campus activities—a testament to how well Bennington High School prepared him and to the head start he gained by entering college as a sophomore:
- Citrus TV (student-run news station)
- Sports Department
- Social Producer for “On The Bench”
- Photographer for ACC Network that covers multiple Syracuse athletic events
- Women’s Sports Update show on Orange TV
- Syracuse Men’s Club Ice Hockey Broadcasting Team
- Radio stations WAER and Z89, Sports Departments
His experience showcases exactly why the Foundation invests in these opportunities— when we can bridge financial and resource gaps, students can aim higher.
The Bigger Picture
Programs like AP Test Reimbursement may not always be visible, but their ripple effect is powerful. They encourage academic challenge, open doors to college credit, and give Bennington students a head start on their future success.
Through our donors’ support of Beyond Blue: Future Success, we’re helping students walk into college with confidence, experience, and in some cases—an entire semester or more already completed.
Because when it comes to shaping bright futures, every opportunity counts.
Support our students' college readiness with a donation to our Beyond Blue Future Success Programs ➤
